Problem with replacing license plate bulb
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Problem with replacing license plate bulb
I bought a replacement lighting kit for all the interior lights of the car as well as the license plate light bulbs.
I'm trying to remove the old license plate bulb and it's not budging. I can't tell if the bulb is supposed to remove from the housing or if the whole housing is supposed to remove. But I've tried both ways and nothing is budging.
Anyone have ideas?
I'm trying to remove the old license plate bulb and it's not budging. I can't tell if the bulb is supposed to remove from the housing or if the whole housing is supposed to remove. But I've tried both ways and nothing is budging.
Anyone have ideas?
#2
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
I've never had such a minor change to the car frustrate me so much. I got the license plate bulbs switched out. But then I get to the map lights (the two little lights on the bottom of the rearview mirror) and for the life of me I can not remove the old ones.
I tried prying them out with my fingers, tweezers, duct tape, duct tape attached to tweezers, needle nose pliers, dental floss, latex sticky gloves, the bulbs are tiny enough and wedged deep enough into the little socket with no room whatsoever that I can't figure out how to get them out. I must have spent a good 35 minutes just trying to remove one bulb and finally gave up.
Any ideas?
I tried prying them out with my fingers, tweezers, duct tape, duct tape attached to tweezers, needle nose pliers, dental floss, latex sticky gloves, the bulbs are tiny enough and wedged deep enough into the little socket with no room whatsoever that I can't figure out how to get them out. I must have spent a good 35 minutes just trying to remove one bulb and finally gave up.
Any ideas?
Last edited by DanMan35; 02-24-2017 at 03:44 AM.
#3
You know that license plate bulb was clear when it was put in? right?
As for the rearview mirror. I used a smaller zip tie and looped it around the bulb, then pulled it out. That worked, though the drivers side was still a PITA to get out. The passenger side was no problem.
Don't ask why that was, no clue. Now I've had the new LED bulb fall out on the drivers side, probably from the connection being loose now.
As for the rearview mirror. I used a smaller zip tie and looped it around the bulb, then pulled it out. That worked, though the drivers side was still a PITA to get out. The passenger side was no problem.
Don't ask why that was, no clue. Now I've had the new LED bulb fall out on the drivers side, probably from the connection being loose now.
#4
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I bought a replacement lighting kit for all the interior lights of the car as well as the license plate light bulbs.
I'm trying to remove the old license plate bulb and it's not budging. I can't tell if the bulb is supposed to remove from the housing or if the whole housing is supposed to remove. But I've tried both ways and nothing is budging.
Anyone have ideas?
I'm trying to remove the old license plate bulb and it's not budging. I can't tell if the bulb is supposed to remove from the housing or if the whole housing is supposed to remove. But I've tried both ways and nothing is budging.
Anyone have ideas?
Your looks like it fused to the plastic, from the heat.
Was both side's the same that you couldn't pull them out?
Last edited by 1bdvet; 02-24-2017 at 09:55 AM.
#5
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The small zip tie works best. Make a loop slide over bulb and tighten it down,then pull it out.
I also used needle nosed pliers.
I also used needle nosed pliers.
#6
Intermediate
I ended up grabbing the base of the mirror, and turning to the right about 1/4 turn, unplugging the electrical connector, and used a butter knife to remove the bulb. Much easier than breaking my back trying to lay on the console and work upside down!
#7
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Only the right license plate bulb looked like this. The left side was fine. I ended up getting it out and swapping in the LEDs and they are working fine.
#8
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
I will buy mini zip ties today. I'm concerned about using needle nose pliers because the last thing I want to do is break the bulb and then have no way of getting it out of there.